Indicator for designation strip holder



Feb. 23, 1954 D. J. WEXLER 2,669,964

INDICATOR FOR DESIGNATION STRIP HOLDER Filed Aug. 1, 1952 i 25 S 25INVENTOR. l 2 E3 25 21 Dav/d] W6X/6! Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE INDICATOR FOR DESIGNATION STRIP HOLDER 4 Claims. 1

. 'I'hev present invention relates to visual indicators, and moreparticularly to sliding indicators of this character which can beapplied directly to an existing designation strip holder.

, There are many instances where, in addition to the usual designationstrip, it is desirable to apply a manually operable visual indicator orvisual signal device to the designation strip holder. Designation stripholders are used in conjunction with telephone switchboards, formholders such as hospital chart holders, and many other devices, and thevisual indicator of the present invention is for the purpose of showinga particular or special condition, or that some action is to be taken orhas been taken, when the indicator is operated to one of its positions.

Generally, the invention comprises a body member which is preferablyH-shaped and adapted to be inserted into the designation strip of theindicator and be securely frictionally held thereby, a cover memberlongitudinally slidable with respect to the cross-bar of the H-shapedbody and frictionally held in any desired position of adjustment, andindicia carried by the cross-bar of the H which may be covered oruncovered at will by sliding the cover member to appropriate positions.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is the provision of a visualsignal device of this character which may be readily applied to adesignation strip holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter comprising indicia and a manually slidable cover member whichis movable at will to cover or uncover the indicia, as desired.

Still another object of the invention, is the provision of a device ofthis character wherein the body member is securely frictionally held inthe designation strip holder, the cover member being relatively lightlyfrictionally held.

Other and further objects will become apparent upon reading thefollowing specification together with the accompanying drawing forming apart hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a designation strip holder with an embodimentof the invention applied thereto, the cover member being positioned toexpose the indicia.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 1, with thecover member positioned to cover the indicia.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of the H -shaped body member.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the body member shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the body member shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the manually slidable cover member.

Referring to Fig. 1, a designation strip holder I I is shown secured bysuitable fastening means, such as rivets [2, to a flat surface l3 of anydesired object. The designation strip holder ll comprises extendingrounded flat end portions I4 and two parallel inwardly turned flangeportions l5. which extend lengthwise of the back or body portion I6,forming two longitudinal grooves or recesses I! adapted to receivetherein a designation strip (not shown) of paper or other suitablematerial having any desired information appearing thereon. A suitabletransparent strip may cover the designation strip, if desired.

An indicator embodying the present invention is shown inserted in theright hand end of the designation strip holder H, the indicator beingdesignated generally as 20. The indicator 2!) comprises a generallyH-shaped body portion 2| having a cross-bar 22 and four legs 23extending outwardly from the cross-bar 22. The cross-bar 22 carriesindica 24 on the left half thereof, which, in the embodimentillustrated, may be an area of distinctive color, such as red, forexample.

The H-shaped body portion 2| may be formed of any suitable resilientmaterial, but is preferably made of metallic spring material such asPhosphor bronze, for example. As may best be seen-in Figs. 5 and 6, theH -shaped body is curved forwardly about two mutually perpendicularaxes, in this instance being both the vertical and horizontal axes, sothat the four legs 23 extend forwardly with respect to the center of thecrossbar 22. When the H-shaped body 2| is inserted in the longitudinalgrooves I! of the designation strip holder II, the legs 23 resilientlyengage the front walls of the grooves I! formed by the inner surfaces ofthe flange portions I5, the pressure of such engagement being sufilcientto hold the H-shaped body securely positioned within the designationstrip holder l I.

A cover member 25 (Fig. '7) is shown provided with an outwardly curvedcentral portion 26 and two tapering side portions 21 for slidingengagement with the longitudinal grooves I! of the designation stripholder II. The cover member 25 is shown provided with a. tab portion 28which may be grasped to assist in sliding the cover member 25 along thelongitudinal grooves H. The tapered side portions 21 of cover member 25engage the longitudinal grooves 11 with sufficient frictional force toretain the cover member 25 in any desired position, but insuificient toprevent easy sliding of the cover member by hand, when desired.

The H-shaped .body member 21 and the cover member 25are inserted in thedesignationstrip holder II, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The legs 23 of theH-shaped body 2i limit the sliding movement of the cover member 25 alongthe longitudinal grooves ll of the designationstrip holder H. The forceof frictional engagement of the legs 23 of the H-shaped body 2| with thewalls of the grooves I1 is considerable, so that it may be displacedonly intentionally. The indicia 24 .on

the cross-bar 22 of the H-shaped bodyZi may thus be covered or uncoveredat will by'sliding movement of the cover member 25.

:Havnigthus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. Aidevice of the class described adapted to be carried by adesignation strip holder having inturned lateral flanges forming twoparallel longitudinal grooves, said device comprising: an H-shaped bodymember of resilient material including a cross-bar portion and legsshaped for secure frictional engagement with said grooves; a-c'overmember slidablydisposed in saidgrooves intermediate said legs on top ofthe cross bal' portion of the H-shaped member and dimensioned to concealaboutone-half of said crossbar portion; and an indicia carried by thecrossbar-portion ofsaid H -shaped member, said-indicia being covered oruncovered at will by sliding said cover member.

2. A device of theclass described adapted to becarried by a designationstrip holder having inturned lateral flanges forming twoparallel'longitudinal grooves, said device comprising: an H -s'hapedbody'member of resilientmaterial including'a cross-bar portion and legsshaped for secure frictional engagement with said grooves, said H-sl1aped member being curved in the'same direction about two axesintersecting each other at-right angles in'the center of the cross-barportion and extending, respectively, longitudinally andtransversely ofthe latter,'a cover member of arcuate shape having tapered sideportions, said cover member being slidably disposed in said groovesintermediate said legs on top of the crossbar portion of the H-shapedmember to conceal about one-half of said cross-bar portion and beingfrlctionally held in any desired position therealong; and an indiciacarried by the cross-bar portion of said H-sl'iaped member, said indiciabeing covered or uncovered at'will be sliding said cover'member.

3. A-device of the class described adapted-to be carried by adesignation strip holder having inturned lateral flanges forming twoparallel longitudinal igrooves, said device comprising: an H- shapedbody member of resilient material in- 4 cluding a cross-bar portion andlegs shaped for secure frictional engaement with said grooves, saidH-shaped member being curved in the same direction about two axesintersecting each other at right angles in the center of the cross-barportion and extending, respectively, longitudinally and transversely ofthe latter, a cover member of arcuateishapehaving tapered side portionsand an outwardly projecting grasping portion, said cover member beingslidably disposed in said grooves intermediate said legs on top of thecrossbar portion of th H-shaped member to conceal about one-half of saidcross-bar portion and being frictionally held in any desired positiontherealong; .and an indicia carried by the crossholder havinginturned-lateral flanges forming two parallel grooves of anindicator-device comprising an -H-shaped body member of resilientmaterial including a cross-bar portion and legs integral with andprojecting from said cross-bar portion, said H-shapedmember being curvedin the'same direction about two axes intersecting each-other at rightangles "in the center-0f the cross-bar portion and extending,respectively, lengthwise and transversely of the latter, "said H-shapedmember beingpinserted in the strip holder with its cross-bar-portionextending in the longitudinal direction of thestrip holder andbeing-insecure frictional engagement'with 131191301;- tom ofthe latter-and'itsupwardly and outwardly projectingiegsengaging the grooves of the stripholder and being in secure frictional contact -with the inturned flangesthereof, an arcuate cover member curved about an axis parallel "to thelongitudinal axis of thestrip holder in a direction opposite to thecurvature 'of the *H-shaped body member, said cover member extendingtransversely over the cross-bar portion of the.

H--shaped member to conceal 'about one-"half of said cross-bar portionand having its depending lateral edges projecting into the grooves ofthe strip holder between 'the'legs of the "Fl-shaped member with itsmarginal'portions in slidable frictional engagement with the inturnedflanges of the strlp holder,-and-indicia carried by the cross-barportion'of-said 'H-s'haped member, said indicia being covered oruncovered-at will by sliding saidcover-member.

I DAVID J. WEXLER.

References Cited in the file of this :patent-

